Piston ring



Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,609

J. O. JUSTICE PISTON RING Filed May 29. 1923 J 0 Ja state,

cogee and State of Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN OSLIN JUSTICE, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

"Heron RING.

Application flled flay 29, 1923. Serial m. 642,292.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHNOSLIN JUSTICE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Columbus in the county of Mus- (iveorgia, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Piston I as -'Rings, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a piston ring consisting ofmain and supplemental elements cooperatively related so as to providefor extension of the ring laterally to adjust itself to oversize or oldor worn ring grooves so that it may obtain a firm and perfect seating orfitting engagement in the oove.

A further object is to provide an expander in connection with the ringwhereby lateral movement of the piston in the cylinder is preventedwhich results in what is commonly known as piston slap.

With these objects in view the invention consists in a construction andcombination of parts ofwhich a preferred embodiment is illustratedwithout defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the piston employed with theimproved ring, the cylinder wall being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively perspective views of the ring elements.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the expander.

F"gure 6 is a perspective view of the lap joint at the connecting endsof the main element of the ring.

The ring consists of the main element 1 and the sup lemental element 2both of which are spht to provide for the radial expansion of the ringto contact with the cylinder wall 3, the ring being carried in the usualgroove of the iston 4.

The main ring 1 15 in reality the working rin being disposed against theu per wall of t e piston groove and on that side or face perpendicularwith the peripheral face of the ring. On the opposite face or side, theworking ring is beveled as indicated at 6 to provide an acute anglebetween the lower side of the ring and the peripheral face so that thisside is inclined away from the bottom of the piston groove in thedirection of the axis of the piston.

The supplemental ring 2 is in reality a jamb ring and its outerperiphery'is' normally within the outer periphery of the Working ring,the jamb ring having an inclined side face 7 forming an acute angle withthe inner face of the jamb ring and having contact with the inclinedface 6 of the working ring. vThe bottom face of the j amb ring is squarewith the peripheral face and engages the lower side wall of the pistongroove. Obviously radial expansion of the jamb ring will, by virtue ofthe contacting bevel faces 6 and 7, increase the effective width of thering as a whole so that firm contact with the upper and lower side wallsof the piston grooves is effected. The outer diameter of the jamb ringbeing 'less than thecorresponding diameter of the working ring, providesfor considerable radial expansion of the former without contact with thecylinder wall. Thus the ring as a whole may be made to seat firmly inpiston grooves of varying widths which will be found as a result ofwear.

The workin ring is. provided with a la joint and at the meeting ends isexpands laterally to substantially equal the Width of both itself andthejamb ring, one extremity being formed with an offset tonguesoverlapping the ton ue extension 9 onthe other extremity whic however,is provided with a lateral extension 10 substantially equal to the widthof the jamb ring. The tongue 8, however, is reduced in thicknessbyremoval of a portion of the stock from the inner periphery, so that thistongue may ongage in a seat 11 formed in the lateral extension 10 besidethe tongue 9, this seat being provided by removal of stock from theouter periphery of the terminal of the workmg ring.

The circumferential length of the jamb ring is reduced by the removal ofa section to provide a clearance space for the ofiset tongue 8 and thelateral extension 10.

In order to expand the rin s, an expander is provided common to othrings. This expander consists of a spring 12 formed with alternatearched and straight portions '13 and 14, the expander being in the formof a splitring to provide for radial extension. Longitudinally theexpander is split on a centerline as indicated at 15 to providetwospaced parallel spring elements which are connected together at theterminals of theexpander, the longitudinal split being terminatedshortof the extremities of the sprin Thus-"one of the parallel elementsof t e expander against the working. ring and the other against the jambring, the former being expanded rad ally for firm contact with thecylinder wall and the latter radially expanded for. the lateralexpansion of the ring as a whole-Idue to the cam action between thebevel faces 6 and 7 of the working and jamb-rings.

Since the construction firm seating of the working ring against theupper side wall of the piston groove, the working ring may be ground atthe surface to secure perfect contact with the upper wall of the groove,even though the groove be materially worn. Since the outer periphery ofthe jamb ring does not contact with the cylinder wall, a pocket isprovided in the ring groove bounded by the lower edge of the workingring, the periphery of the jamb ring and the lower side walls of thecylinder groove, this pocket serving as an oil pocket for any excess oilfrom an cause and since the upper wall of the 011 pocket is defined bythe lower beveled edge of the working ring, this beveled edge moreeffectively wipes off the oil from the cylinder wall than if it weresquare or perpendicular with the latter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is 1.A device for the purpose indicated comprising a working ring and a jambring having cooperative camming surfaces, the working ring beingradially expansible and having a lap joint consisting of overlappingtongues the combined width of which is equal to the width of the workingring bears provides for the.

and the jamb ring, the jamb ring having a section removed to provideclearances ace for the overlappin joint of the wor mg ring,;and a radiaexpander common to both-rings.

2. A device for the purpose indicated comprising a working; ring and a'amb ring having cooperative camming sur aces, the main ring beingprovided with a lap joint consisting of overlapping tongues of which oneis formed in extension of the working ring and the other offsettherefrom, said working ring bein provided with a lateral extension,said oiset tongue and lateral extension being respectively reduced inthickness on the inner periphery and outer periphery to provide a seatin the extension for the reduced portion of the-offset tongue, thecombined width of the tongues approximating that of the main ring andjamb ring and the latter having a section removed to provide clearancespace for the lateral extension and the offset tongue.

3. A device for the (purpose indicated comprising working an jamb ringsof which the latter'is of less radial extent than the former, said ringsbeing provided with cooperating camming surfaces to effect relativelateral movement on radial expansion of the jamb rings, and an expanderconsisting of alternate arched and straight portions, theexpander'beingsplit on a longitudinal center line to provide two spaced parallelspring elements bearing re ctively on the inner peripheries of the woring and jamb rin s.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature.

JOHN OSLIN JUSTICE.

